My Story: Lady Jane Grey (My Royal Story) by Sue Reid Read Free Book Online Page B

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped with fright.
    “It is only me,” I heard Elizabeth whisper. “Come. I have something to tell you.” I followed her into a quiet corner, where the servants would not hear us. Elizabeth’s face looked very serious, and I felt nervous suddenly. “It is said that the Admiral plans to force Parliament to grant him governorship of the King’s person,” she whispered.
    I was bewildered. “Why would he want to do that?”
    “To get the King’s ear. He who has that has all the power,” she told me. I shivered. That is true enough. Until Edward is of age he is at the mercy of powerful men. “It is said that he seeks to marry the Princess Elizabeth,” she went on.
    I shook my head vigorously. “I have heard that,” I said. “But I do not believe it.” Later I asked Nurse what she thought.
    She snorted: “He needs a good woman, not a chit of a girl.” She is no help.

10 January 1549
Seymour Place
    Sir William Sharington’s house has been searched. It is said that he has been helping himself to funds from the Bristol Mint. But I do not think that is the only reason he has been taken away for questioning.
    I feel sure I am right because this morning, even before the servants were up, we had a secret visitor, a servant from the Earl of Rutland’s house. Well, it may have been secret then, but it is no secret now. All the servants are talking about it. Men from the Privy Council went to the Earl’s house in the middle of the night, and woke him up to question him. The Earl is only twenty-one. He must have been terrified because he blurted out anything he could think of to save his neck. He even said that the Admiral planned to kidnap the King by force. I refuse to believe it. People will say anything when they are terrified. Anyway, one of the Earl’s servants has a brother here so he made haste to come and warn him. The Admiral’s servants love him as much as I do.
    Father and my uncle Lord Thomas Grey were rowed to Seymour Place today. As they stood talking in the hall I caught a few of their words.
    “No. The Admiral will not obey the Council summons,” said Father.
    “Then he is a fool,” put in my uncle. But they both still stand by him, and I am glad. I feel as if am holding my breath. Waiting. Waiting for something to happen. Nurse is no comfort. She is forever quoting proverbs at me. “Pride comes before a fall,” she said to me today. She means the Admiral. I told her to hold her tongue.

12 January 1549
Seymour Place
    I am sitting up in bed, writing by the light of one candle. I asked Nurse to leave it lit when I got into bed. I cannot sleep. How could I, on such a dreadful night? The Admiral has been arrested and taken away for questioning. I pray that he has not been taken to the Tower. Poor Lady Seymour fainted when the news was brought to her, and had to be revived by her ladies. She was led away, weeping, to her apartments.
    I could not even bid my guardian farewell. My father held me back growling: “Little fool, do you wish to destroy us all?” I felt ashamed. Is this how he defends his friend? But I am told that he sprang out of his chair his hand on his sword when he heard that men had come to arrest the Admiral. The Admiral himself I am told was calm, calling for a goblet of wine to be brought him, and draining it before quietly leaving the chamber. My uncle says he should have answered the Council’s summons. “He should have trusted to the Protector’s mercy.” Ha! Do they think that would help him?
    As soon as the Admiral had left, I ran upstairs to my chamber and pressed my face up close to the pane. Down below in the torchlight I saw him walk to the landing stairs. I willed him to look up and see me, but he did not even turn round. May God keep you safe, I whispered softly as he climbed into the barge. A servant bent to untie it, and the rowers pushed it away from the bank with their oars. I kept my eyes on it as it slipped away, though by